Social Geography - Index

Instructor: J. Lopez, Ph.D.

Telephone:

507-389-1890

507-382-0497

Office:

218 I Armstrong Hall

Electronic mail:

jose.lopez@mnsu.edu

Office Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

If I am not in my office, please call

507-382-0497

Catalog Description

Concepts and theories concerning global and national social problems and the significance of geographic analytic methods for social research. Study of factors related to variations in regional standards of living.

Course Description

Social geography is an interdisciplinary course that facilitates the understanding of the geography of inequality, injustice, and violence. Since geography is a social science, it is important to have a course that focuses on the connection between the “spatial science” and its sister fields of the human and behavioral sciences.

This class emphasizes the importance of social scientists collaborating with geographers to solve challenging research questions. This course is unique because of its eclectic nature.

Multiple approaches dictate the bearings necessary for the successful completion of the course. The first approach is global. The second approach involves the study of social spatial systems, their structures and functioning. The third approach deals with behavioral perspectives that involve the study of human-environmental systems in a social context. Another perspective included in this seminar examines the ways in which social relations and social identities are produced.

Topics

Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Religion

Politics, Utopias, and Dystopias

Medical Geography and the Geography of Crime

Expectations

The participants of this class are required to produce a literature review homework dealing with a current social problem. The students must devote attention to academic journal articles from any social science that deals with the spatial patterns of a specific social issue. For this reason, students will be expected to develop an area of specialization of their choice, to be involved in group discussions of work in progress, and will be asked to present their literature survey during the week before the final test.

Learning Outcomes

The understanding of the dynamics of our diverse human geography and the social systems by which they function;

The interpretation of the connections between geographic social segregation and unjust legal systems and practices;

The critical review of the geography of inequality and social inaction;

The understanding of modern political and economic systems as primary referents in which current social conditions are produced;

The interpretation of socio-economic quantitative and qualitative data.

Weights

Quizzes and homework - 40%

First test - 20%

Second test - 20%

Final Exam - 20%

Course Policies and Rules

It is my policy that disrespectful behavior, lack of consideration towards the participants of the course, tardiness, or any disturbance on your part will influence my decision regarding your final grade.

Attendance is not mandatory, but you are highly advised to attend. If you want to succeed in this course, you should come to every session. While about 90% of the material covered by the lectures could be found in the course book, some topics are not sufficiently covered by the text.

Even though attendance is not mandatory, points will be deducted for those students who leave class early, especially on days that test and quiz grades are returned (permission to leave early is required). I prefer that you are absent instead of having to witness students leaving the classroom disrespectfully.

Past experience indicates that grades correlate with attendance and an absence on a test day is detrimental to one's grade.

Please, consult any of your classmates for notes or handouts distributed during lecture if you miss a class session. Do not visit my office asking for old handouts. My duties during office hours are to clarify concepts and answer questions pertinent to tests or assignments, not tutoring (private instruction).

Under special circumstances, I will make electronic notes and Power Point slides available (you are expected to make an office appointment with me, and bring a PC-formatted disk or an USB flash drive so you can copy the lecture files). If you were absent, I would give you copies of the class notes or a make-up quiz if you provide a documented valid excuse.

Valid excuses include

• personal illness, as verified by a valid medical excuse;

• death or critical illness in the immediate family;

• participation in a university-sponsored activity;

• military service;

• law enforcement or public safety service.

If you examine MSUM’s Student Handbook (the “Students’ Responsibilities” section), you will find the following policy:

“Individuals will respect and foster the academic endeavors of others. Minnesota State Mankato exists to promote learning, and as such, students must behave in such a way so as to allow the process of learning to take place by group or individual. Examples of violations include but are not limited to: harassment of a faculty member; disrupting teaching or learning; excessive noise that disrupts classes, studying or University activities; other activities that seriously disrupt the educational process; intentionally altering, inhibiting, or stealing another person's research.”

Cell phone use (of any kind – voice, texting, calculator, or photography…) is prohibited during class. Phones must be turned off or at least set them not to make noise during class time.

The following activities are not to be engaged in during class because they are disruptive and detract from the learning focus of the course: listening to distracting electronic devices such as MP3 players, I-Pods, CD players, Walkman radios, electronic games, pagers, Facebook/My Space surfing, internet, faxing, or web browsing. In essence, all students are required to turn off laptop computers before class starts to avoid distracting activities. Reading the newspaper or other materials not related to the course is not permitted during the lecture. Audio or video recording of lectures is not permitted.

Side conversations are discourteous to classmates, instructors, and guests. Conversations between classmates while I instruct won't be tolerated and I will ask disruptive students to leave the classroom if I deem it necessary. A student may be dropped from a course by the administration if disrespectful behaviors persist and I recommend this action. Raised voices, temper tantrums, and rude behavior will not change my 26-year-old policy.

Class time will be reserved for the definition of concepts, discussion of topics, and explanation of analytical techniques. Office hours are devoted to answering your questions.

There may be in-class assignments or quizzes, which are a portion of your course average grade. I give these occasional quizzes during the last 15 minutes of the session, throughout the semester. I am not obligated to announce most quizzes in advance.

Quizzes and assignments may differ in value (points) depending on their complexity. Do not expect that an elementary assignment will have the same worth as a more complicated exercise.

Late or make-up exams will only be given in verifiable cases of hardship or illness (you need to provide a note from the physician, court, or police department to demonstrate a legitimate reason for your absence). Projects or exercises turned in late after the original assignment has already been graded and returned will be worth zero points. There will not be any make-up quizzes or group activities. However, if you miss only one quiz, that zero won't be included during the calculation of the final grade (remember you have only one chance!).

The course is lecture format, not cooperative learning. Geography is a different type of science that involves very specific facts and theories. Basically, come to class, listen to the lecture, and take notes. Stop me (politely!) if I go too fast or if you have a question. The type of participation that I expect from you could be asking good questions, providing helpful facts during the discussion of concepts, and clarifying ideas that might be considered complex by other students.

The syllabus serves as a guideline and is subject to change, depending on circumstances as the semester progresses.

If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at (507) 389-2825.

Grading and Graduate Students:

Graduate students must perform at a level distinct from the undergraduate students; this is especially true regarding assignments and the final project. To more accurately maintain the level of a true graduate class, graduate participants will be required to include more extensive information in the assignments and a lengthy literature review. If one fails to complete the extra work, the student will lose a letter grade “step” from the final class grade.

Class Schedule

Religion (Text: Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Armstrong: all chapters)

First Test: February 24

Politics, Utopias, and Dystopias (Text: Brave New World by Huxley)

Second Test: March 31

Medical Geography (Text: Human Geography by Malinowski: The Geography of Health and Disease chapter)

Geography of Crime (Text: Crime and the American Dream By Messner: optional)

Final Exam: May 1

3.75 points (A)

3.5 points (A-)

3.25 points (B+)

3 points (B)

2.75 points (B-)

2.5 points (C+)

2.25 points (C)

2 points (C-)

1.75 points (D+)

1.5 points (D)

1.25 points (D-)

0 points (F)